Planting Seeds - Food & Farming News from CDFA

Monthly Archives: January 2021

Sterile insects key piece of CDFA integrated pest management

Conference on sterile insects set for February 4 The California Department of Food and Agriculture will host a forum on Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) on February 4 via Zoom, at 8:30 am.     SIT is a key component in CDFA’s … Continue reading

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USDA study reveals that conservation practices reduced carbon footprint

USDA NRCS News Release A new Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas reduction study reveals that from 2004 to 2018, more than 367,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalents were sequestered or GHGs reduced by installing NRCS working … Continue reading

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Ag sustainability and resiliency – Secretary Ross talks with the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC)

Interview by Lori Pottinger of the PPIC We talked to Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, about agricultural programs designed to build climate resilience and support farmers’ financial resilience and water security. PPIC: What kind of … Continue reading

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California welcomes Biden Administration actions on climate change

Statement from CDFA secretary Karen Ross: I am eager to work with my friend and former boss Secretary Tom Vilsack to expand climate smart agriculture practices to more acres of farm and ranch land!  CDFA’s climate smart ag programs have … Continue reading

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Governor Newsom announces actions to improve statewide COVID-19 vaccinations

California has tripled and sustained its pace of administering the COVID-19 vaccine  State identified need to simplify vaccine eligibility framework, standardize vaccine information and data, and administer available supply as quickly as possible Vaccine Team directed to transition to a unified … Continue reading

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California and Denmark Sign MOU on Climate Smart Dairy Collaboration

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross and Minister Rasmus Prehn of Denmark’s Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) focusing on dairy innovations and technologies addressing climate change.  The signing event, which was held virtually, included … Continue reading

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Upcoming event – Expanding Nature Based Solutions and Advancing 30 by 30

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Secretary Ross applauds appointment of Jewel Bronaugh as USDA deputy secretary

Virginia commissioner of agriculture Jewel Bronaugh has been appointed as the incoming deputy secretary at USDA, the number two position at the agency. CDFA secretary Karen Ross: “It is exciting to see President Biden choose a colleague from a state … Continue reading

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Tiny stingless wasps help protect California citrus – from the Pacifica Tribune

This video with CDFA entomologist Dr. David Morgan and Santa Clara County agricultural commissioner Joe Deviney takes an up-close look at stingless wasp releases to protect against Asian citrus psyllids. By Emily Harwitz To prevent the spread of the devastating … Continue reading

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UN Food Systems Summit 2021 – from AgriPulse

By Marshall Matz Welcome to 2021! Hopefully, we will see the end of a terrible health crisis that has claimed so many lives around the world. The Executive Director of the World Food Program, David Beasley, has predicted that hunger … Continue reading

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